Solihull College and University Centre – engagement and partnerships
Demonstrating a relentless commitment to professional development
Solihull College and University Centre, in its beautiful natural setting combined with excellent facilities and welcoming staff, makes an incredibly positive first impression. Embedded in the local community, it very much feels a part of it. As Rebecca Gater, Principal and CEO, takes me and my colleague Louise Jones on a tour, I take the opportunity to discuss professional development and career progression with her staff.
Stimulating learning environments
First stop is the computing and digital provision with Mohammed Maher. We discuss the impact of our ETF T Level development programme and its impact on the sector. I am pleased to hear about the networking opportunities the programme continues to offer the college. Mohammed talks proudly about the increased levels of confidence in his colleagues as they continue to engage with other colleges to support the T Level development. Digital is an important asset to the college, offering a wide-ranging experience to learners from AI and software development all the way to learning about data protection and how to protect IT systems from attacks through a ‘real hacker’ simulation in a safe environment. I must confess I had never seen anything like this before and found it a remarkably interesting way of learning.
We then move to environments more familiar to me, given my previous experience. I am delighted to meet with adult nurse Donna Poole, who heads up the health and science department. After a tour of the simulated suite and science lab packed with a plethora of tools and equipment – combining mannequins and technology – that enable innovative learning, we land with a conversation around Donna’s career and professional development as a dual professional. Donna describes the importance of maintaining good standards, a focus on reflection, which has shifted for her from nursing to being a head in teaching and the value of maintaining and learning from local networks. She reflects how engaging externally and looking to the future are the two areas that she finds she spends more time on in her current role.
Career development across the College
Within the early years provision, Susan Homer, who heads the department, talks about the importance of ongoing reflection in professional practice and how different it feels moving from teaching to management, to heading a department. She recognises the shift in knowledge and focus that is required when moving from teaching to leading. She notes how this necessitates thinking more strategically and broadly about her provision. As she shows us around, she talks proudly about her next year’s learners who are in for a welcome session.
We next meet Matt Prentice, who takes us through a wonderful art exhibition, as he describes his own career progression – moving from being a technician to a lecturer within the college. The most important aspect of his development is maintaining a focus on his practice. He works part-time as a lecturer and part-time in the creative arts, which he finds essential to maintaining his credibility while being able to transfer knowledge from his practice to his students. He reflects on the importance of professional development in his own career. He shares with us his recognition for the college’s support, both in terms of the training he has received and in maintaining a good balance between his practice, his teaching and family.
External engagement and partnerships
Clare Powell, who we meet next, leads the animal care provision. She takes professional development to a different level, with a sharp focus on the importance of external engagement. She describes how the development of her staff relies a lot on their engagement skills and ability to embed their learning through networking opportunities and external engagement. Building networks with dog charities has helped them build a better understanding of industry. Engaging with employers and animal care organisations enables her staff to develop their communication and confidence in presenting and influencing. This, in turn, enables them to bring all these skills back to the college and use them in their teaching. She describes professionalism as a constant curiosity for learning and ongoing development.
Working together to uphold professional standards
Our reflections with Rebecca and her senior team over lunch focus on what the ETF does well and where it can better support the sector going forward. Rebecca reflects on the positive engagement with the T Level professional development programme. She talks passionately about the value of having SET’s professional standards for teachers, trainers and leaders that help shape staff development and practice within the college, and her own interest in leadership and research. Research is a strong theme of our discussion, and we reflect on the need for the ETF to continue to support and develop its offer around practitioner research and linking this to the professional standards.
I depart impressed with Solihull’s strong focus on community engagement, grounded in a strong narrative around the importance of partnerships. From hosting the Solihull Chamber of Commerce on its premises to actively engaging with local employers, charities, healthcare providers and the independent sector, Solihull leads the way in embedding engagement in its ways of working, staff development, and commitment to research.